Advent, a four-week time of preparation before Christmas, begins the church year. For additional creative resources for individuals, families, and worship planners, visit Advent Unwrapped. The first Sunday in Advent often has a focus on Hope.
Worship Ideas
Advent Candlelighting Liturgies: Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (153.25 KB): Advent Unwrapped liturgies, based on the names for Jesus, to accompany lighting the Advent candles.
Advent Communion Liturgy (68.56 KB): All who seek to be nourished and sustained are welcome here.
Gathering Lectionary for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, November 29, 2020-February 14, 2021 (172.35 KB): Includes suggested readings, hymns, worship spark, children's time idea, sermon starter, etc...
Gathering Lectionary for Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, December 1, 2019–February 3, 2020 (3.73 MB): Includes suggested readings, hymns, worship spark, children's time idea, sermon starter, etc...
Hanging the Greens (39.92 KB): An Advent Unwrapped service to prepare church buildings and sanctuaries to be symbols of preparing ourselves for the birth and rebirth of Jesus.
In the Rich Dark of Winter: An Advent Communion Service (235.68 KB): Using expansive scriptural imagery, the theme of this Advent Unwrapped service is anticipating God’s fulfilled promise of the renewal of all things.
The Days Are Surely Coming (25.2 KB): A service by Miriam Spies for the first Sunday of Advent, year C, and Disabilities Awareness Day.
Prayers
Activity Sheet: Names for Jesus (37.45 KB): An Advent Unwrapped activity for people looking for new ways to pray.
Bethlehem Prayer (19.43 KB): A Christmas prayer for peace in Bethlehem by former United Church Moderator David Giuliano.
Body Prayers (398.9 KB): An Advent Unwrapped “action prayer” for each week of the Advent/Christmas season.
Family Prayers and Blessings (221.67 KB): An Advent Unwrapped resource of traditional prayers and creative blessings.
Watching and Waiting: A Daily Vigil Based on the O Antiphons (628.25 KB): Follow the ancient tradition of praying the “O Antiphons,” familiar from the carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” using this Advent Unwrapped resource. You can set aside nightly family prayer time for the last week of Advent or adapt this ritual in another way.
Music
Advent Prayer Song (SAB) (Nancy Chegus) (61.83 KB): Short SAB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent. Please credit the composer.
Alleluia (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (418.48 KB): Short SATB piece (a cappella, optional piano) suitable for worship during Advent or other times during the worship year. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
As the Wind Blows (SA Anthem) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (2.55 MB): “As the wind blows, as the seed grows, lifts its harvest to the sun…” Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
Candle Burning (SATB Anthem) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (3.58 MB): “We each are born with a candle burning. This is the flame that lights the way.” Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
Sing Now Gloria (Unison) (Terry Macham) (85.52 KB): Unison song suitable for worship during Advent. Lead sheet with melody, lyrics, and chord symbols. Text in English and Latin. Please credit the composer.
Songs from Many Cultures for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany (16.98 KB): Hymns in Voices United, More Voices, and Nos Voix unies that offer in many languages and diverse origins.
These Gifts We Bring (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (1.86 MB): A short piece to follow the offering. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
We Light This Candle (SATB) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (2 MB): A piece for use during candle lighting for the four weeks of Advent. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
When You Go from This Place (SSA / SAT) (Pat Mayberry / David Kai) (297.13 KB): Short SAA (or SAT) piece with piano accompaniment suitable as a benediction during Advent or other times during the worship year. Please credit Words/Music: Pat Mayberry; Arrangement: David Kai and report to One License / Licensing.
Related Material
Acknowledging the Territory in Worship (170.12 KB): A brief guide to help congregations and bodies of the church incorporate an Acknowledgement of Territory into their gatherings.
Activity Sheet: Advent Wreath Craft (455.09 KB): Colour and cut out the candles and add them to the Advent wreath. An Advent Unwrapped activity.
Advent Calendar 2020: Get Ready for Christmas! (188.91 KB): Hang this Advent Unwrapped calendar on your fridge and use a magnet to count down the days! Light a candle every Sunday.
Advent Intercultural Hymn Festival (219.55 KB): These songs with accompanying commentary can be combined with seasonal prayers and scripture readings to create an Advent hymn festival. Please credit Bruce Harding for this resource and the music arrangements.
Buy Less Shopping Guide (108.17 KB): An Advent Unwrapped shopping guide for all ages for a Buy Less Christmas.
Colouring Storybook (717.38 KB): Actively explore the story of Christmas using this 16-page Advent Unwrapped colouring book.
Moderator's Advent Message 2020: In his Advent video message, Moderator Richard Bott reminds us that for everything there is a season. Advent—especially this Advent—is a time to remember that.
Moderator's Advent Message 2020: Transcript (31.99 KB): Transcript of Moderator Richard Bott's 2020 Advent video message.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (269.67 KB): A one-rehearsal Advent Unwrapped pageant with the message "God is with us! We are not alone."
Story and Activity Cards (504.26 KB): Meet the characters of the Christmas story, from Isaiah to the Holy Family, through these Advent Unwrapped cards. Includes activities for all ages.
The Good News of Joy to the World (226.11 KB): A five-session Advent Unwrapped Bible study on the Gospel of Luke by the Rev. Dr. Peggy Mulambya-Kabonde of The United Church of Zambia.
The Good News Story (392.39 KB): Four Advent Unwrapped Sunday school session outlines.
Worship Blog
Welcome to Advent Unwrapped 2020
Celebrate Advent with Advent Unwrapped resources for individuals, families, and communities of faith.
Unwrapping "The 'Huron' Carol"
We have received many comments and questions about whether or not to incorporate the “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” into Christmas carol services. Thanks to Dana Lynn Seaborn, of seabornsong.com, who offered us a helpful response to start the conversation… Read more
How Are You Getting Ready for Christ(mas)?
How are you getting ready for Christ(mas) this year?
If you are celebrating the Advent season as a family—or as an individual or an all-ages group of any kind—Advent Unwrapped offers an alternative to the advertisements, shopping lists, and hype that we are bombarded with at this time of… Read more
Speaking of Darkness in Advent
Blackmail. Blackhearted. Black as sin. Washed white as snow. Over time, in our English language, we have become accustomed to equating evil as black, and purity as white. Even the dictionary adds credence to this. One dictionary defines “black” as “without any moral quality or goodness; evil;… Read more
